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(N0 Modem 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. WESER.

. PIANOFORTE. No. 560,247. Patented May 19, 1896.

2 INVENTOR: 35i? Ji i -255 1 By his Attorneys,

ANDREW RGRAHAMPHOTO-UTNQWASHINGTDN0.!2.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. A. WESER.

PIANOPORTE.

Patented May 19, 1896.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4.

J. A. WESER.

. PIANOFORTE. No. 560,247. Patented May 19, 1896.

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By his Al/OWZZJS,

ANDREW B GRAMMPHOYD UTHQWASHINGTONJJC UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. \VESER, OF NEW YORK, l Y.

PIANOFORTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,247, dated May 19, 1896. Application filed April 1,1893. Serial No. 468,750. (No model.)

To all whom it 77m concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. \VESER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianofortes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide pianofortes, and more particularly upright pianofortes, with a means for reducing under certain circumstances the volume of sound given out by the instrument. This means is in the nature of a swell, and has somewhat the effect of the soft pedal, but differs therefrom in being applied at the outset and in remaining effective until specially manipulated, and in that it does not reduce the volume of sound to the same degree as the soft pedal, so that the latter may still be applied by the player in piano passages to further soften the tone of the instrument and give expression to the music. To this end Icombine a hammer-rest with the movable desk or music-rack in such manner that the movement of the desk moves the hammer-rest, and thereby varies the retractile throw of the hammers. XVhen the desk is closed, the rest is moved toward the hammers and so restricts their retractile movement as to considerably shorten their stroke when in action, and thereby cause them to strike lighter blows against the strings; but by preference this hammer-rest is auxiliary, supplemental, or additional to that oper ated by the soft pedal, and its restriction of the throw of the hammers is less than that effected by the soft pedal. As the desk is opened the rest is moved away from the hammers to increase their throw to the maximum. According to the preferred construct-ion, the hammer-rest thus connected to the desk is a special hammer-rest, additional to the ordinary spring-rail or han'imer-rest which is moved by the soft pedal. This additional hammer-rest may be variously connected to the desk, but is preferably mounted directly thereon, so as to move therewith. Means are provided, however, by which to throw this additional hammer-rest out of action, so that the desk may be closed without softening or damping the instrument. The additional hammer-rest may be disconnected from the desk and operated independently thereof if desired. 7

According to a further feature of this invention, there are combined together two means for independently regulating the volume of tone given out by the instrn mentnamely,the swell for restricting the action of the hammers already referred to, and a movable top to the piano-case in such manner that these two means shall operate simultaneously for cooperatively controlling the volume of tone. To this end the top of the case, or a part thereof, is made movable and connected to the desk, so that the opening or drawing down of the desk accomplishes two resultsnamely, it throws open the top of the case and it dis places the additional hammer-rest already referred to, so that the full volume of sound is generated by the instrument and the full escape of the sound from the instrument-case is provided for. My present improvements also provide improved means for operating the said parts, by which the movable front is connected by a rod to a knee-lever, so that on pressing the latter to one side the front is thrown open, the same movement opening the top of the case and retracting the supplemental hammer-rest out of the path of the hammers, so that simultaneously the hammers are given a greater stroke and the escape of sound from the instrument is facilitated.

A spring or other retractor is arranged to press back the movable front and top in order to close the case and restore the supplemental hammer-rest into the paths of the hammers upon the release of the knee lever. The knee-lever is accordingly operated as a swell being displaced by the operator whenever he desires to augment the volume of sound, or the oppositely-acting kneelever and spring may be reversed in their actions, so that the spring will tend to throw the parts into the position to give the maximum volume of sound, and the knee-lever will serve to move them against the tension of the spring to the position for giving the minimum volume.

As the movable front of the case is thrown out and in by the action of the knee-lever, it would, if used as a music-rack, as is customary with upright pianos, be apt to throw the music off, or would, at least, be subject to the disadvantage of moving the music up and down and toward from the operator or performer. To overcome this difliculty I provide a separate music-rack so mounted as to remain approximately immovable, while the movable front of the case moves out and in behind it.

A pianofortc constructed according to my invention has the advantage that when soft or low playing is desiredas, for example, when the instrument is used for practice-it is only necessary to leave the music-desk closed. In this condition not only does the instrument generate less sound than normally, but the sound is somewhat confined within the case of the instrument, while at the same time the capacity of the soft pedal to give expression to the music is retained. IVhen it is desired to have the instrument give forth the full volume of sound, it is only necessary to pull out the music-desk.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical transverse section through the case of an upright pianoforte constructed according to the perferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Figs. 3 and at are fragmentary sections on a larger scale than Fig. l and showing the parts in different positions. Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification.

Let A designate the piano-case as a whole; B, the movable front thereof; 0, the movable top or cover thereof; D, the music-rack, and E the knee-lever.

The movable front B is constructed as a board or panel having a ledge Z) beneath and stiffening-bars a a at its sides and a a within. its sides. The upper part of the movable front when closed projects up behind the upper top board 0 of the case, as shown in Fig. 3. It is guided by rollers Li (Z at the opposite side edges and by the upper margin of the front opening c, so that it has a sliding engagement at its upper part, while at its lower part it enters within the opening c when closed and is guided in the opening movement by a board orstrip f, having hinge-joints g g, connecting it at one edge with the case A and on the other with the back of the movable front B near its bottom, the latter being provided with a back board B for this purpose. It results from this construction that as the movable front B opens it first swings out at the bottom and then descends, its upper part sliding down against the rollers d until at its extreme movement it reaches the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Aleaf-sprin g S (preferably one at each end) is mounted on the upper board 0 and presses rearwardly and upwardly against a roller or bar h, carried on a block it, fixed on the back board B, so that this spring serves to close the movable front in any position except its extreme open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. IVhen moved open only as far as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, the spring is effective to close it. The construction of swinging front thus far specifically described is claimed in my Patent No. 48%,481, dated October 18, 1892.

The case A is formed with a top opening 1', which is closed by the movable top board or cover 0. This cover is connected to the front B, so as to open simultaneously therewith. The simplest connection for effecting this purpose is that of brackets t", fastened to the upper part of the movable front B and on which the top O is fixed. Thus as the movable front is drawn forward and dropped down the movable top C is lowered within the case, thereby throwing open the top opening 1. This feature is claimed in my application for patent for musical-instrument cases, filed November 10, 1892, Serial No. 451,535.

On the back of the movable front B, according to one feature of my invention, I mount a supplemental hammer-rest F, additional to the usual hammer-rest F employed in upright pianos. The usual rest F is movable from the soft pedals through the medium of a rod f from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to that shown in dotted lines in order to shorten the stroke of the hammer. The supplemental hammer-rest F permits the hammers to fall back to a position preferably intermediate between the extreme positions of the main hammer-rest F, as shown in Fig. 3. The hammer-rest F being mounted upon the movable front B is in position to intercept the hammers when the front is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, and in opening the front it is moved forward out of reach of the 11ammers, as shown in Fig. 4. This supplemental hammer-rest is constructed as a board or strip hinged to the back board B of the movable front, so that it may be turned up out of the way to throw it out of action, and having on its free edge a strip of felt, rubber, or other yielding or sounddeadening material against which the hammer heads or stems may strike.

IVhile my present invention is not essentially limited in its application to the use of the specific constructions of movable front, movable top, and supplemental hammer-rest already shown and described, these constructions are deemed preferable by reason of their noiselessness and simple combination together for cooperative action.

In applying another feature of my present invention I mount the knee swell or lever E in any suitable manner on the case in such position as to be readily operated by the knee of the operator. In the construction shown this swell consists of a lever-arm fixed 011 an oscillatory shaft E, passing through a removable boX G, which in the view shown is designed to receive mechanism for operating the piano automatically. On the rear end of this shaft is another arm E (best shown in Fig. 2,) projecting approximately horizontally. Any suitable stop j may be provided for lin iting the retractile movement of the lever. Over the arm E stands the lower end of a verticallyarranged sliding rod H, working in dition it suitable guides Z Z, attached to the inside of the casin g, and limited in its downward movement by a pin or shoulder Z, which is stopped against either of these guides. The upper end of the rod H connects with a crank-arm m, projecting from the link or board f, which guides the lower part of the movable front in its movement. Any suitable means of connecting these parts may be provided, the preferred construction being that shown wherein the arm on terminates in a pin m andthe rod H has its upper end forked so that, in case the movable front B is operated by hand, this pin may freely move in the fork without disturbing the rod.

Normally the supplemental hammer-rest F is turned down into its operative position, as shown, and the movable front B and top are closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Upon the instrument being played in this condition the sound given out is of small volume, although not so reduced as by the application of the soft pedal. \Vhen coming to a forte passage, the operator with his knee will dis place the knee-lever E, thereby pushing up the rod H and rotating the crank-arm m and link or board f around the center g, thereby throwing the movable front l3 outwardly and downwardly and opening the movable top C, while at the same time displacing the supplemental hammer-rest F to bringit out of reach of the hammers, all as shown in Fig. 4. So long as the instrument is played in this congives the maximum volume of sound of which the instrument is capable, since the hammers striketheir maximum blow and the case is open to the maximum extent to permit the sound to escape. The performer holds the knee-lever displaced so long as he desires to play forte and upon reaching the end of the forte passage he releases the knee-lever, whereupon the tension of the spring S restores the parts to their original normal position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation just described gives the most marked contrast between forte and pianissimo effects of which the instrument is capable. If a less marked contrast is desired, the supplemental hammer-rest F may be turned up out of action, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3; or, if desired, this hammer-rest may be wholly omitted or removed from the illstrument.

In case a prolonged forte effect is desired the operator maybe relieved of the necessity of holding the knee-lever displaced with his knee by drawing down the movable front B with his hand beyond the limit to which it is opened by the action of the knee-lever (which is that shown in full lines in Fig. 4) until the extreme limit of its motion is reached, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4c. In this position the connecting link or board f extends so nearly in line with the direction of pressure of the spring S that the latter is no longer able to restore the parts, so that they remain in the position in which they are placed; but

upon giving a slight upward thrust to the movable front it is brought within the sphere of action ofthe spring, which thereupon closes it. In my said previous patent and applications the movable front B has been referred to as and has in fact constituted the music rack or desk. In the application of my present invention as illustrated, however, its use as a music-desk is not desirable for the reason that when moved up and down by the knee-lever it is liable to dislodge and throw off the music. If entirely closed in the position shown in Fig. 3, the music could not well remain in position on it, but would be almost certain to tumble over. To avoid this result, I provide a special music-rack D, mounted in front of the movable front B, but extending, preferably, only over the middle portion or third thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. This rack D is or may be constructed as a music-ledge and two uprights or end pieces q q, the latter being connected at their upper ends by hinges to the lower margin of the front board 0, so that the rack may be swung on these hinges from the closed position shown in Fig. 3, in which it fits in close against the movable front, to the open position shown in Figs. 1 and l. The rack is formed with cross-bars r 7', one of which,r, extends at its ends through the end pieces q and is formed with cranks s 3, having outturned ends. These crank-arms s are sufficiently elastic so that the outturned ends may be sprung into or out of holes or sockets t t, formed in the sides of the uprightribs a ct of the movable front B. These crank-arms s s serve as a means for holding the desk D when it is swung outward, as shown in Fig. 1. To drop the desk back flat against the front board, as shown in Fig. 3, the crank-arms s s have their ends disconnected from the sockets ttand are turned up, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, with their ends sprung in and resting against the uprights a. If while the crank-arms s s are in place witlntheir ends in the sockets it, as shown in Fig. l, the movable front 13 be drawn out and dropped down, the position of the rack D is but little disturbed, the complete opening of the front B leaving the rack D at substantially the same inclination shown in Fig. i. This result is due to the proportion maintained between the length of the crankarms 8 and the amount of rising and falling movement of the movable front B, so that in closing it its upward movement shall compensate for its recession from the music-rack.

Fig. shows a simple modification of my invention, the movable front (here lettered B being simply a pivoted front board swinging from a hinge at its upper edge, and the movable top (here lettered C being an inwardlyswinging cover or lid. The knee-lever E has a horizontal arm E (see Fig. 6,) which is c011- nected to a cord or other connector H, extending to an arm u, projecting rearwardly from the movable front B while the same or an additional cord or rod 1' extends thence to IIO the movable top 0 Aspring S is connected to the latter and tends to close both it and the movable front and to restore the kneelever.

Instead of operating the swell by means of a knee-lever it may be operated by means of a pedal, pull-knob, or any other convenient device. An operating-handle in the nature of a pull-knob or push may be readily applied to automatic pianos, but for those played by a performer the knee-lever is the best. Any suitable means for moving the desk or the auxiliary hammer-rest or both may be employed.

I claim as my invention the following-defined novel features or improvements, substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely:

1. In a pianoforte, the combination with a hammer-rest of a movable desk connected thereto so that the movement of the desk moves the rest and thereby varies the retractile throw of the hammers.

2. In a pianoforte, the combination with a hammer-rest of a movable desk connected thereto so that when the desk is closed the rest shall be moved toward the hammers to restrict their retractile throw, and as the desk is opened the rest shall be moved away from the hammers to increase their throw to the maximum.

In a pianoforte, the combination with a desk movable forward and back, of a hammer-rest carried thereby and projecting rearwardly thereof sufficiently to move against the hammers upon the closing of the desk and thereby restrict their retractile throw.

4. In a pianoforte, the combination with a hammer-rest, of a movable desk connected thereto so that the movement of the desk moves the rest, and adapted to be thrown into or out of action, whereby when in action the hammer-rest when the desk is closed restricts the retractile throw of the hammers, while when the desk is open or when the rest is thrown out of action the hammers have the maximum throw.

5. In a pianoforte, the combination with a desk movable forward and back of a hammer-rest carried thereby and projecting rearwardly thereof sufficiently to move against the hammers upon the closing of the desk, and hinged to the desk so thatit maybe displaced relatively thereto to throw it out of action.

6. In a pianoforte, the combination with an action comprising the usual hammer-rest for limiting the retractile stroke of the hammers, movable by the soft pedal to shorten their stroke, of an auxiliary hammer-rest movable into the path of the hammers to shorten their stroke to a less degree than by the operation of the soft pedal, and means for operating said auxiliary rest independently of the soft pedal.

7. In a pianoforte, the combination with a movable desk, of a hammer-rest connected thereto to be moved thereby against the hammers upon the closing of the desk, so as to reduce the stroke of the hammers, and a cover for the top of the case connected to the desk to be moved therefrom so as to close the top of the case upon the closing of the desk and to open it upon the opening of the desk, whereby when the desk is closed the volume of sound produced by the instrument is restricted and the generated sound is partially confined within the case, while upon the open-' ing of the desk the volume of sound is augmented and the case is opened for its free escape.

S. The combination with the desk I the cover 0 carried thereby, and the auxiliary hammer-rest F mounted on the back of the desk, of the spring S mounted to exert a rearward and upward thrust against the desk in any position of the latter and thereby to counterbalance the weight of the desk and of the cover and rest carried thereby.

9. In a pianoforte, the combination with the usual hammer-rest, of a supplemental movable hammer-rest for limiting the retractile stroke of the hammers, and a knee-lever connected to said supplemental hammer-rest and arranged to be operated by the performer for moving the supplemental hammer-rest toward or from the hammers and thereby varying their throw.

10. In a pianoforte, the case having a movable front, combined with a supplemental hammer-rest mounted thereon in position when the front is closed to stand in the path of the hammers and restrict their retractile throw, combined with a swell-lever consisting of a knee-lever arranged to be operated by the performer for opening said movable front and thereby permitting the sound to escape more readily from the case, and displacing said rest out of reach of the hammers so that they are given their maximum throw.

11. In a pianoforte, the movable front I3 and a movable hammer-rest, in combination with the rod II operated by the knee to move both said rest and the front B.

12. In a pianoforte, the usual hammer-rest and a supplemental rest F, in combination with the rod H operated by the knee to move the supplemental rest.

13. In a pianoforte, the case having a movable front, and means for operating it, combined with a music-rack mounted in front thereof, and having means for holding it forward in use irrespective of the movement of said movable front.

ll. In a pianoforte, the combination of movable front B mounted to swing out and slide down, a music-rack D pivoted to swing out, and crank-arms s for connecting it when swung out with said front, arranged substantially as described, whereby they serve to hold the rack swung out and supported from the movable front whether the latter is open or closed. 1

15. In a pianoforte, the combination with presence of two subscribin JOHN A. ESER.

\Vitnesses GEORGE W. WESER, JOHN HoEoKH. 

